As a plant molecular physiologist, I am interested in understanding how plants respond to environmental cues to regulate their growth and development at the molecular level. Presently, my research focuses on a number of low molecular weight chemicals present in the environment which are able to positively influence plant growth. These chemicals are often produced as signalling molecules by various different organisms in the environment, such as rhizosphere bacteria, fungi and by plants, in order to influence plant growth for symbiotic purposes. Alternatively, the chemicals may originate from abiotic sources such as fires, being utilised by the plants as ecological signals to detect changes in the environment. I am interested in understanding how plants perceive these signals, as well as the resultant changes in gene expression that ultimately lead to increased plant growth. Hopefully, if we can fully understand these processes, we can apply the knowledge to crop plants to enhance agricultural yield and productivity.